Chapter 278: Fujino: She’s Got a Thing for Me Too?!

The girl had a white bag slung over her shoulder, dressed in a short black top with white accents on the collar, paired with a long white skirt that tucked in her shirt. 

A wide-brimmed white hat sat atop her tea-colored short hair, and she wore a mask and stylish sunglasses. There was a vague air of elegance about her, almost like a refined lady. 

Her face wasn't fully visible. 

But from her jawline and the shade of her hair, Fujino had a hunch—this had to be Miyano Shiho. 

He wasn't totally sure, so he blinked and took another look. 

Hmm, nice figure. 

Okay, now he was certain. It was definitely Miyano Shiho. 

Sure, face doppelgängers were common in this world, and plenty of people dyed their hair. 

But a body like that? Hard to mistake. 

"Um… excuse me, are you that high school detective Fujino who's always in the papers?" 

Miyano Shiho stepped closer, her voice soft and tinged with surprise as she asked. 

"That's me. Fujino. Can I help you with something?" 

Fujino couldn't quite wrap his head around why Miyano Shiho would show up at Teitan High. 

She felt a little dangerous right now. 

Sure, her disguise was pretty solid from the outside. 

But Teitan High had its own master of disguise lurking around. 

If she got caught, she'd probably be done for on the spot. 

"Well, here's the thing… I'm kinda bad with directions, and the layout for this school festival is a bit of a maze…" 

Miyano Shiho explained, her tone turning a little sheepish. "I'm a fan of your detective work, and I don't really know anyone else here. So, uh, could I trouble the famous detective to show me around the festival?" 

Fujino: "…" 

So, you risked coming here just to check out the school festival? 

And you've even set yourself up as some directionless girl? 

She's pulling it off so well, too… 

Fujino inwardly groaned, feeling like something was off but unable to pin it down. 

Seeing Fujino not respond, Miyano Shiho hesitated, then figured a random stranger asking to hang out might be a bit much. She added, "Of course, I won't ask for free. How about a 100,000 yen commission? Sound good?" 

"Hm?" 

Fujino's ears perked up. Already planning to play tour guide for a cute girl, he jumped at the offer. "Well, since it's a last-minute job and I've got nothing else going on… I'd be happy to help." 

"Thanks, I appreciate it." 

Miyano Shiho nodded, satisfied. 

It was her second day back in this form. Yesterday, she'd monitored her physical condition, bought some new clothes, and swung by Snow King Ice City to check on her sister, Akemi. 

Sadly, she hadn't run into Fujino there. 

The antidote's effects would last until the afternoon or evening. 

She'd gotten word Fujino was at school, and after not seeing him for a few days, she'd missed him a little. So she decided to drop by… and maybe enjoy the festival while she was at it. 

Good thing she'd thought ahead yesterday at Snow King and cashed out some bills. 

Otherwise, she'd have flopped right out of the gate today. 

She had no clue there was a Belmod lurking around, nor that Fujino had already seen right through her. 

All she could think was how this little trick to snag Fujino's attention worked like a charm. Happily, she pulled ten 10,000-yen notes from her bag and handed them over. 

"So, where should we start?" 

Fujino pocketed the cash and led her down the hallway. 

"Just lead the way," Miyano Shiho said, keeping pace beside him. 

Her gaze lingered on Fujino's profile through her sunglasses, and she zoned out for a second. 

She was used to looking up at him, but seeing him eye-to-eye now felt… different. 

She kinda got why *that woman* had fallen for him. 

Thinking of her, a weird idea popped into Miyano Shiho's head… 

If that sneaky woman could go for him, why couldn't she? 

Yeah, this was her chance to test the waters. 

She made up her mind quietly. 

Fujino, half-distracted, started rambling. "Well, for the festival, there's usually some food stalls, or maybe…" 

Miyano Shiho didn't reply. She glanced around, saw no one nearby, and leaned in close, slipping her arm around his. 

"Hm?" 

The soft sensation threw Fujino off, his eagle-eye scan of the surroundings screeching to a halt. 

His mind exploded with dramatic imagery—epic landscapes, the earth-shaking milestones of human evolution… 

He glanced down and saw the classic move. 

His arm was trapped again. 

Fujino: "…" 

Why does this feel familiar? 

Wait, is she into me too?! 

His brain short-circuited, baffled but secretly floored. 

Question: What do you do when the little loli you've been living with grows up and starts crushing on you? 

Miyano Shiho's lips curled slightly behind her mask. 

She was pretty pleased with Fujino's reaction. 

Compared to that scheming woman, she figured she had the upper hand… 

But why did it feel kinda weird? 

Was her heart racing a little? 

"Ahem…" 

Fujino coughed lightly and smoothly pulled his arm free. "You just…" 

"Oh, I lost my balance for a sec…" 

Miyano Shiho snapped out of it, her face flushing behind the mask. 

Truth was, she'd remembered how Ooka Momiji used to do this all the time… 

So she'd figured she'd tease him a bit too. 

But actually doing it? 

She couldn't figure out how that sneaky woman managed to stay so calm last time they'd traveled together. 

The vibe got awkward fast. 

"Huh?" 

A surprised voice broke the silence. 

Fujino turned and saw Ran and Sonoko heading their way. 

Oh, thank goodness—the cavalry's here! 

"Fujino-senpai, who's this?" 

Sonoko marched over first, eyeing Miyano Shiho with narrowed eyes full of suspicion. 

"She's a client," Fujino said simply. "Basically, she came to see the festival but got lost, so she asked me to show her around." 

"Lost, huh?" 

Sonoko frowned, studying Miyano Shiho's reaction, then glancing at Fujino. 

She swore she caught a whiff of something fishy. 

These two were hiding something, weren't they…? 

"Oh, she got lost?" 

Ran nodded sympathetically, totally getting it. 

She was a bit of a directionless mess herself and had gotten into plenty of mix-ups because of it. 

She smiled lightly. "In that case, why don't we all check out the festival together?" 

"Yeah, Ran's got the right idea!" 

Sonoko gave her bestie a mental thumbs-up. "The festival's way more fun with a group!" 

"That okay with you?" 

Fujino glanced at the two chatty girls, puzzled. "Didn't you have rehearsal or something?" 

"No biggie!" Sonoko waved it off. "Our performance starts tomorrow, and we wrapped up practice yesterday." 

"Yup," Ran added with a nod. "Dr. Araide even told us to take it easy and enjoy the festival." 

Fujino didn't mind the group plan. 

With those two around, the vibe would lighten up a lot… and it'd be way less weird. 

Miyano Shiho didn't object either. 

She was starting to think she'd gone a little overboard just now. 

Without those two showing up like firefighters, things might've spiraled out of control… 

The group wandered around the festival stalls, grabbing snacks here and there. 

Fujino kept his eagle eyes on, watching out for a certain song-loving actress who might try a sneak attack. 

Miyano Shiho trailed behind, sizing up the trio ahead through her sunglasses, her eyes narrowing slightly. 

From what she could tell, that big-forehead girl seemed kinda into Fujino. 

Last time he'd gone out at night, wasn't it to save her…? 

No big deal, though—she still had the edge! 

The only real competition was that other scheming woman like her. 

--- 

That afternoon, in a car cruising down a Mihua Town highway: 

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Never thought a cool, aloof chick like you would actually care about someone." 

Conan lounged in the back seat, munching on sunflower seeds, smirking at Haihara Ai beside him. "So, how'd it go wandering the festival with Fujino?" 

Haihara Ai: "…" 

Why was this guy getting more annoying by the day? 

Her good mood shattered. She shot him a cold look, her voice flat. "You don't wanna turn back into Kudo Shinichi anymore?" 

She cracked the window open. "If you don't want it, just say so. I've only got one antidote left. I can toss it out right now." 

"Ahem, no, wait—!" 

Conan coughed, scrambling to explain. "I was just curious, that's all!" 

"Curious, huh…" 

Haihara Ai glanced at the clothes she'd just changed out of, then said with a teasing edge, "It was fine. Besides me and Fujino, the girl from across the street tagged along too…" 

"…" 

Conan blinked, thrown off. "Ran was there?" 

"Mm-hmm…" Haihara Ai hummed, her tone loaded. "Better watch your back." 

"…?" 

Conan was utterly lost, a sour vibe creeping in. 

Wait, wasn't this supposed to be *your* thing with Fujino? 

How'd Ran get dragged into this?! 

Damn it! 

He sucked in a breath, calming himself down, then looked at Haihara Ai, curious. "So, the antidote actually works?" 

"From the test results, yeah," she said with a nod, her voice steady. "Based on how it went for me just now, it's fine aside from some physical weakness. No other side effects so far." 

"So I can turn back into Kudo Shinichi?!" 

Conan's heart raced with excitement. Finally, he could go back! 

"Don't get too hyped yet," Haihara Ai cut in, popping his bubble. "The antidote only lasts one or two days. After that, it wears off, and you're back to Edogawa Conan." 

"Still pretty good," Conan said with a grin and a nod. 

Sure, it wasn't permanent, but a temporary switch was solid. 

Plus, he could use it to teach Fujino a lesson! 

Hmph, if Conan can't handle you, Kudo sure can! 

--- 

Meanwhile, at Teitan High's maid café: 

"Achoo!" 

Fujino sat at a table, covering his mouth as he sneezed. "Why do I feel like someone's cursing me out?" 

He grabbed a couple of napkins from the table, wiped his hands, and stared off, clearly distracted. 

Honestly, Miyano Shiho coming back like this caught him off guard. 

He wasn't great with feelings—kinda clueless, even. 

But this was so obvious even he couldn't miss it. That girl was definitely into him. 

Clueless? Maybe not entirely. 

He knew he was just playing dumb to dodge it. 

Ooka Momiji was like that, and now Miyano Shiho too. 

He just didn't know how to deal with it. 

"Sigh…" 

Fujino let out a breath, sipped his coffee, and glanced out the window. "Feelings are such a hassle." 

--- 

That night: 

"Argh—!" 

With a pained scream, Conan successfully turned into… a girl. 

Kidding—Kudo Shinichi. 

"Haihara… why didn't you warn me?!" 

Kudo Shinichi stumbled out of the bedroom, now in his old Teitan High uniform, sweat dripping from his forehead. He grimaced at Haihara Ai, whining through the pain. 

"Warn you about what?" 

Haihara Ai sat on the couch, sipping hot cocoa. She turned to Kudo Shinichi, puzzled. "Is the antidote not working, or did it turn you into a girl?" 

"Turn me into a girl?!" 

"I didn't say anything…" 

"Hey!" 

Kudo Shinichi frantically checked himself, relieved to find everything intact. 

"It just *hurts* turning back!" he grumbled. "I thought I was gonna die just now…" 

"That's normal," Haihara Ai said casually, then played dumb. "Wait, didn't I mention that?" 

"You didn't!" 

"Oh, must've slipped my mind. Next time, I'll—well, you'll know by then anyway." 

She kept up the act, her tone tinged with fake regret. 

Truth was, she hadn't forgotten—she just didn't say it. 

After all, she'd gone through that pain herself yesterday. 

Giving this guy—who got to coast on her hard work—a heads-up? 

Felt kinda unfair. 

Kudo Shinichi: "…" 

You forgot? 

Why does it feel like you're targeting me, Kudo-style? 

Was this payback for earlier? 

Like they say, birds of a feather… 

He sighed, then pressed on. "So, now that I'm Kudo Shinichi, what about Conan…?" 

"Don't worry about that. I'll step in as Edogawa Conan for now," Haihara Ai said. 

"Everything's ready, Ai-chan," Dr. Agasa chimed in, emerging from the lab with a box in hand. 

"You're gonna play Conan?" Kudo Shinichi blinked, confused. 

"Who else is gonna clean up your mess?" Haihara Ai shot back, grabbing a suit from the box. She threw on a wig and glasses. 

And just like that, she was a female Grim Reaper elementary kid. 

Not identical, but with a mask, close enough. 

"Ai-chan's disguise is spot-on!" Dr. Agasa laughed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think she was Conan!" 

"Ahem…" 

Haihara Ai adjusted her mask's voice changer, feeling a sudden urge. She pointed at Kudo Shinichi and shouted, "The truth is always one!" 

Kudo Shinichi: "…" 

Am I the stand-in now? 

(End of Chapter)